Car-coupling



(No Model.)

,L. AQSTITH.

I GAR COUPLING. No. 257,780. 4 Patented May 9, 1882.

- UNITED STA-Tee PATENT OFFICE.

State of Kentucky,

7 which-- CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,780, dated May 9, 1882.

Application filed February 4, 1882. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Loan A. STITH, of Plum Lick,-in the county of Montgomery and have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplers, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 is a perspective elevation of the coupler. Fig. 2 is a top view of one of the improved draw-bars, and Fig. 3 represents a modified form of securing-spring to the drawbar.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved coupler for cars.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings,

the forward end of the ear for supporting the forward end of the draw-bar. This guard is sufficiently wide to permit the draw-bar to have lateral play. The draw-bar is in the form ofa shell or hollowed, A, within.

O 0 represent latches secured within and to ,the shell at their rear ends with a wedge, E, be-

tween them, the eross-pin F being designed to hold the latches in position. The latches C have wideleaves, which project out from the sides of the shell A.

At the forward end of the draw-bar the. leaves of thelatches are narrowed down, forming a neck, G, which passes through the contracted or narrow' mouth A of the drawhead A.

Outwardly-projecting hooks D are formed on the latches O, as shown. These hooks D extend out a sufficient distance, so that when the latches are compressed, as shown in Fig. 2, the points of the hooks will be flush with the outside of the draw-head. The latches are made of spring metal or, if preferable, each latch may be independently hinged at the rear end to the shell or draw-bar, and a suitable spring placed between them to keep them distended in the position shown in Fig. 1.

I G represents a semicircular vertical groove cutin the inner surface of each jaw or latch, so as to perform the ofiice of a link when it is desired to couple with'the common drawhar.

H represents a lever having a loop, which is,passed over the shell or draw-bar A and shown in Fig. 2.

A suitable lever, K, hinged to the bracket K on the under side of the car, and having'a connecting-rod, J, provides a ready means for manipulating the jaws of the coupler.

The opposite car has the draw-bar L, which is provided with a head, M,and mouth N of suificient dimensions to receive the contracted head A. The sides of the month are flaring to receive the jaws D, and suitable hooks or ledges O are formed within the mouth on each side to receive the hooks or jaws D.

G is a perforation to re'cieve a pin for use when it is desired to couple with a car having the old-style draw-bar and link.

The operation is as follows: The jaws D D in Fig. 1 are in proper position to couple with the approaching draw-head. As the jaws enter the mouth N they are pressed together, and the head A also enters themouth N, when the jawsD hook on the ledges 0. To uncouple, the lever Kis pushed to the rear, which again presses the jaws together and releases their hold from. the ledges 0.

In Fig. 3 I represent an improved manner of securing a spring to the draw-bar. P is an elliptical spring passing transversely through the aperture Q of the draw-bar, and secured to thedraw-har'by means of the bolts R. B j

is the ordinary draw-bar pin.

I am aware it is not new to provide one draw-bar with draft-hooks and the opposite draw-bar with a mouth having ledges or shoulders to receive the draft-hooks, and I do not claim this, broadly.

Having described my invention, what I I with ledges or shoulders O, substantially as :0 claim isherein set forth.

Incar-conplcrs,the clraw-barA,having withs In testimony that I claim the foregoing I in a recess, A, containing the latches 0, prohave hereunto set my hand this 30th day of vided with leaves or wings which project January, 1882, in the presence of witnesses.

through the sides of the draw-bar, and with LORD A. STITH. jaws D, which project from the forward end, Witnesses: and loopedleverH, in combination with the ELLIs DEAN SHERIFF,

draw-bar L, having the mouth N, provided B; W. PHILLIPS. 

